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Feast of the Annunciation
Monday, March 31st
On the Feast of the Annunciation we celebrate when Mary became the mother of
Jesus Christ and carried the future of the world for nine months of pregnancy.
Mary’s fiat to the special vocation to serve the kingdom of God as the mother of
the Messiah is quite a “yes” to behold. Her role in salvation history did not
end when her Son died on the cross, for that is when she became
Mother to the whole Church.To get a deeper understanding of
what Mary’s fiat, her "yes" necessitated, we must look at how we
say "yes" to God and what happens to us. First, we look at the
word handmaid and what Mary intended when she said she was the
handmaid of the Lord. The definition of handmaid is someone
whose essential function is to assist. To assist does not mean
to take charge, to take over or to control others and the
process. To an employer a good assistant is often called his
"right hand.” Mary was God’s “right hand,” his faithful
assistant.
Too often when we offer our talents or time to assist with
someone or something important we really offer them as a way to
take over, to lead and control the process and force everyone to
do what we want done. Somehow the magnitude and importance of
serving becomes personal and we supplant our own desires and
egos over and above what was needed and truly important in the
first place. None of this is being an extension of God's hand.
It is “me” being more concerned with “me” rather than offering
subordinate service and unconditional love.
Mary’s model as assistant defines her great trust in God the
Master. Mary uttered this fiat in faith. In faith she
entrusted herself to God without reserve. She devoted herself
completely as the handmaid of the Lord to the person and work of
her Son.
Entrusted to him she left the consequences of her yes in
God’s hands. She did not condition her work or his life but
gave all she had without expectations of reward or recognition.
Mary made a complete commitment to align herself with God. God
was free to do with her as he willed. That is complete trust
and total faith. This is what Mary intended. This is what
assists means. This is what Mary meant to be an extension of
God’s hand.
We are not the hand. We are not God. Mary opened herself to
receive all the help she needed from God to fulfill her
vocation. Mary is the best model of service we have in the Holy
Catholic Church. Truly Mary is the Mother of the Church. Let
each of us follow in her footsteps as we serve God and his
Church.
With faith, hope and love,
Father Steven C. Rogers
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